Woods Runner by Gary Paulsen

Part 1 Green The Forest-1776

Chapter 1 Setting: The Forest. Point of View: It’s Third Person Limited Throughout the WHOLE Book. The Only Character in Chapter 1 is Samuel Quote: “Their valley was like a huge bowl, nestled deep in the hills in far western Pennsylvania.” – Samuel’s Mind Mood: Thoughtful

Chapter 2 The people of Samuel’s frontier have heard about the war and are deciding not to get involved. Setting: His Home/Frontier Characters: Samuel, His Parents: Olin and Abigail, Isaac the Old Man of the Forest, The Clarks, The Overtons, and The Harrises. Mood: Nervous

Chapter 3 Samuel is hunting when he sees smoke. He runs back home, only to figure out that there was an attack on his settlement and he wasn’t there to stop it. Setting: Forest Characters: Samuel Mood: Nervous and Sensing Danger

Part 2 Red War-1776

Chapter 4 Samuel has returned to his home, only to find his suspicions confirmed. There was indeed an attack on his home!! He sees many dead bodies of people he knew, but not his parents!! He digs graves, then prays. He goes to sleep after that. Setting: The Frontier Characters: Samuel and Dead People Nervous: Sad

Chapter 5 Samuel starts to track the ATTACKERS!! Setting: Frontier to attacker’s path Characters: Samuel Quote: “They marveled at him, thought of him as a kind of seer, one who could know more than others, divine things in a spiritual way. Samuel knew this was not the case. He had just learned to see what others could not.” – Samuel’s Mind Mood: Ready and Knowing

Chapter 6 Samuel tracks and meets Old Bobby. Old Bobby gives Samuel information that he isn’t too far behind. He keeps moving. Setting: Attacker’s path to Draper’s Crossing to attacker’s path. Characters: Old Bobby and Samuel Mood: Tireless

Chapter 7 Samuel has been running and is now eating. He’s drinking water and it saves his life. If he had not done this he would had died. He sees captives but is not sure if his mother and father were there. Setting: A Clearing Characters: Samuel and Group of Captives with Officers and Indians Mood: Angry and Cautious

Chapter 8 Samuel witnesses an attack on the natives. He helps but gets hit in the head with a TOMAHAWK!! He blacks out. Setting: A Native’s Campfire Characters: Samuel, Natives, British Soldiers, and Rebels Mood: Fearless

Chapter 9 Samuel wakes up and meets Coop. Coop gives him food and answers a few questions. Samuel returns to sleep. Setting: Coop’s/ the Rebel’s Camp Characters: Samuel and Coop Mood: Strange and Curious Figurative Language: “That egg on your head” It means a bump that’s big.

Chapter 10 Samuel is moving with the rebels. He thinks that he must go faster. Setting: Not One Specific Place Characters: Samuel, Coop, and Some Rebels Mood: Slightly Tired Figurative Language: ”Flashed white like small lamps.” It means that they flashed or shined bright.

Chapter 11 Samuel meets Annie and her family. He finds out that his mother and father’s life were spared for a chessboard because they were there 2-3 days ago. Shortly after he leaves Annie’s parents are MURDERED!! Setting: The Clark’s House Characters: Samuel, Annie, and Annie’s Parents Mood: Relaxed; Scared in the End

Part 3 Green New York-1776

Chapter 12 Samuel runs to find Annie. Once she is found she stays near him. He is upset that they killed Annie’s parents, who were good people. He hunts and rests. Setting: Near Annie’s House Characters: Samuel and Annie Quote: “He was one person with a rifle. Oh yes, he thought, smiling grimly, and a knife.” – Samuel’s Mind Mood: Grim and Sad

Chapter 13 Samuel and Annie go to New York but on the way they meet Abner. They are about to tell him their story. Setting: On the Way to New York Characters; Samuel, Annie, Abner, Officers, and Abner’s Dogs Quote: “Careful there! There’s my bairns’s bairns inside.” - Abner Mood: Ready

Chapter 14 Abner has heard their story. He says that he will take them to New York. Setting: On the way to New York in Abner’s wagon. Characters: Samuel, Annie, Abner, and Abner’s Dogs Quote: ”I think you need help from a old coot and a couple of dogs, that’s what I think.” - Abner Mood: Ready

Chapter 15 Abner explains to Samuel about King George. Later Samuel sharpens tools. He eats dinner and hears Abner and Micah’s conversation. Setting: Micah and Martha’s House Characters: Samuel, Annie, Abner, Abner’s Dogs, Micah, and Martha Mood: Happy and Somewhat Safe Figurative Language: “Crazy as a bag of hazelnuts.” It means that he’s REALLY crazy.

Chapter 16 Samuel is in New Jersey. He and Abner go to find out information. He sees his mother and she promises to get a message to his father. Setting: New Jersey/ New York Characters: Samuel, Abner, Matthew, and Samuel’s Mother Mood: Secretive Figurative Language: “It skimmed along the water like a leaf.” It means that it went quickly.

Chapter 17 Samuel and Abner are ready to bust out his parents. They do it and get away quickly!! Setting: Matthew’s Boat/ Old Sugar Mill Characters: Samuel, Abner, Matthew, and Samuel’s parents Olin and Abigail Mood: Somewhat Excited Figurative Language: “Darkness. Like the inside of a dead cow.” It was REALLY dark.

Chapter 18 Samuel’s parents meet Annie. Abner leaves them and they continue to Pennsylvania on foot. Setting: To PENNSYLVANIA Characters: Samuel, His Parents, Annie, Matthew, and Abner Mood: Steady

Chapter 19 Samuel, Annie, and his parents find themselves in an attack. They are saved by rebels. The rebels offer to take them home. Setting: A Clearing Characters: Samuel, Annie, Samuel’s Parents, Rebels, and British Officers Quote: “It was over.” – Samuel’s Mind Mood: Done or Final

Epilogue It is three years later. He has been helping the Patriots. He stays until Coop dies. Then he returns home, into the FOREST. Setting: War Places, His Parent’s New House, and A FOREST Characters: Samuel, His Parents, Annie, and Coop Mood: An Air of Finality

The Questions How did Samuel change from the beginning of our novel to the end of our novel? He got older He gets involved in the war He faced dangers that he had never faced before He saved his parents And takes in Annie He meets new people People he knew died Those are a few of the changes that influenced him to become someone with many survival skills.

Conflict and Resolution The conflict was that Samuel’s parents were captured. The resolution is him finding them, and I know that because that’s what the whole story is about. It talks about his adventure and everything he did to get closer and better at finding his parents.

Theme I think that the theme is You Have To Work For Something You Want. Evidence Samuel didn’t just wait for the British to deliver his parents to him Samuel really wanted his parents back Samuel did every single thing possible He kept going no matter the danger He used all his strength He used every skill he had

Conclusion It’s a GREAT book!! Gary Paulsen did a good job. I would definitely recommend this book to someone. It includes information and keeps me reading page after page. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟